Do you prefer a manual or an automatic transmission?

[Anonymous]

Also, in addition to that, what kind of experience did you have whilst learning before you got your license?

Automatic

Manual

[exitseven]

I would rather jave a manual. The last two vehicles I bought were not available with a standard trsansmission.

[Asker]

Me too! I am learning how to drive a manual vehicle at the moment.

[exitseven]

how are you doing with thst?

[Asker]

I went into fourth gear on my fifth lesson ever on a main road for an hour and then for the first time I did a 3 point turn and it was good apparently. I have had a total of 5 hours of experience driving a manual. On my fourth ever lesson, I did go on a main road, but it wasn’t as busy (4 hours altogether). On my first ever lesson driving a manual, I stalled 5 times within an hour. 1 lesson= 1 hour.

[exitseven]

You are doing good. Soon you will be rready for a hill stop.

[Asker]

You think so? I have had experiences with an ever so slight hill, but you’re talking about the steeper ones, right? 😊

[exitseven]

yes, there is a horror show of a hill that I used to practice on. It was intense.

[Asker]

Imagine I roll right back hahaha

[exitseven]

you might the first few times. It is a process to get the feeling for the clutch.

[Asker]

I need help with timing it well.

[exitseven]

Thanks for the MHO😎

[Asker]

No worries! You deserve it! 😉

[roy_ricky09]

Always manual.
I prefer the controls to my car

[Asker]

Me too! 🤝🏽

[MrOracle]

I learned on a manual, by choice, and primarily drove manuals for the first 25 years or so of driving, with all but one of my cars being a manual, and the one auto was a second car.

But today, I own 2 autos, and I prefer it that way. Why? Well, because my work van operated in heavy traffic a lot, and if you're going to be in heavy, stop-and-go traffic, an auto is far easier to deal with. And my car is a luxury car, not a sports car. When I drive it, I'm usually trying to relax a bit, enjoying my music and the scenery, and so I'm not racing or driving hard or things like that. As a bonus, if someone else needs to drive one of my vehicles, I don't have to worry that they won't know how.

I still drive manuals from time to time, but autos have gotten FAR better since the 90s, to the extent that nearly all modern cars are autos, with manuals being the rare exception, and usually more specialty cars than mainstream ones.

[Asker]

I’m learning manual by choice too.

[MrOracle]

It's a very useful skill to have, even though autos are replacing manuals in most applications. I've driven most forms of land transportation, from motorcycles to big-rigs to busses to RVs to earth-moving equipment, and I certainly couldn't have done those things without knowing how to drive a manual transmission...

[Asker]

Are vehicles other than cars usually in the form of a manual transmission? Like buses, trucks, Utes, etc?

[MrOracle]

Traditionally they were all manual, but most have transitioned to autos in the last 20 years, though manuals are often still an option. And lots of older equipment is still in use. Modern busses are all autos, though.

[Asker]

I have a preference for manuals, but why are people still keen to drive a manual if everything has changed to automatic, like as in vehicles?

[MrOracle]

Well, in the US, it's mostly just driving enthusiasts - performance drivers.

In other places, like the UK, it's just what they're used to, and there's a sizable price difference between auto and manual cars, not because they're inherently more expensive to make anymore, but because they don't have the economies of scale there.

Of course, as we move to electric vehicles, transmissions will go away completely, as they aren't needed with electric motors. You'll still have a "mode selector" that's similar to the controls on an auto transmission, but it won't really be doing the same thing.

[WindAtMyBack]

Automatic. I don't want to be bothered with shifting. I'm not 20 any more and don't get a thrill out of shifting gears and pretending that I have a zoom zoom car.

Standards shift used to be standard. Automatics were an expensive upgrade. Now it's the other way around. Almost all cars have automatics, and standard shift costs more. Automatics are considerably better than they used to be also.

[Asker]

Fair enough.

[Surely]

I was driving tractors before I could actually reach the pedals. All of my first vehicles were stick shifts. Which I thought was the only way to go.
With the improvements made over the years on automatic transmissions. I can drive either and depending on the type of driving that I am doing. I sometimes prefer one over the other.
I have driven most things from lawn mowers to locomotives.
My “ current “ car doesn’t have a transmission! So funny to see carjackers unable to drive a stick!

[God_of_Thunder]

Both

I prefer an automatic for my daily driver, back and forth to work, the store, etc. I prefer a manual for fun, though, and just the joy of driving.

[Asker]

That’s true 😊

[Guy13]

Manual and on the column. Got access to a Plymouth valiant where gears are on the column…good times 🎉

[WindAtMyBack]

Good ol' "three on the tree"

[Guy13]

@WindAtMyBack Yep snd you csnt kill the thing. Smart technology is there’s no seatbelt 💪

[Asker]

YES!!! 🤩🤩🤩

[WindAtMyBack]

Keeping the linkage adjusted could be a little trickier than with a floor shift, but it was still pretty easy.

And yea, no seat belts. And crappy seats, probably plastic. And either an AM radio or no radio at all. No carpet on the floor. No A/C. No electric windows or locks.

[Guy13]

😎😎😎

[Asker]

I’m learning how to drive a manual transmission at the moment. How did you go when you guys were first learning how to drive one? 😊

[WindAtMyBack]

I stalled a lot when I first learned. Everyone does. It takes a while to get the feel and timing right. But once you get the hang of it it's easy.

Each car is a little different, so every time you drive a different manual shift car you have to experiment a little to get it right, but it's not usually too bad.

I drove a double clutch vehicle once. Now that was a lot trickier.

[Guy13]

I started on a farm-all tractor so everything else was easy. I had 120 acres worth of space for errors in private. Once you get the rhythm down you’re good. Be careful being overly playful with the machine…as you become comfortable

[Asker]

I only struggle with the timing during starting from a complete stop whilst in first gear. I have only driven a manual 5 times for 5 hours.

[Sixgunsound]

I would prefer a manual, but can’t justify the expense of the tiny handful of modern cars that are still made that way.

[Asker]

Fair enough. 👍🏽

[douride2]

I learned to drive on a manual. At work I drive a manual my own vehicle is an automatic. Really it makes no difference to me.

[Asker]

Wait, how does it make no difference exactly lol?

[douride2]

I can drive either with ease. I don't have a preference.

[Asker]

Do you still stall lol?

[douride2]

The odd time yes.

[Asker]

Odd times such as?

[Anonymous]

Automatic. It's called progress. To me those people who choose manuals are silly. It's the equivalent of the telephone being invented and deciding you're going to stick with the telegraph... why?

[Asker]

Hahahahaha

[FilmGuy93]

I prefer manual. I learned on automatic though.

[Asker]

I am learning manual too.

[Anonymous]

Manual. The thing I notice about Americans is they are always getting their transmission fixed, I'm guessing it's related to an automatic gearbox

[AndrésC64]

I've been driving since I was 16 and have never had a transmission problem. I don't know where you're getting your information.

[Asker]

Manual transmissions are cheaper to repair here in Australia too!

[Opinion Owner]

@AndrésC64 don't know much about American cars. Do you guys drive diesel engine cars to or is it just "gasoline"?

[Asker]

Unleaded and diesel.

[Opinion Owner]

Same. Just I never hear of diesel cars in America just gasoline

[AndrésC64]

Before I was even 16 I learned to drive a manual, but I prefer automatic. I'm lazy.

[Asker]

How was your experience when learning?

[Hispanic-Cool-Guy]

Automatic. Don't have to worry about nothing.

[Asker]

Very true. 😂🤝🏽

[slatyb]

Double-clutch paddle shifter.

[Asker]

I live in Australia. I’ve never heard of that. Can you please explain what exactly that is and what it does? 😊

[slatyb]

It's a computer-controlled geared transmission with two clutches, one for even numbered gears and one for odd-numbered gears. Suppose the driver entering a curve downshifts from 4th to 3rd at say 80kph with the tach at 2500 RPM, and that at 80kph in 3rd, the tach be at 3000rpm. The driver pulls the left paddle, initiating a downshift. The even gear clutch is engaged, disconnecting the crankshaft from 4th gear. The engine speed is automatically increased to 3000rpm, and the odd-gear clutch is released, connecting the crankshaft to 3rd gear. This happens in about 1/10th second.

I do know how to do a heel-and-toe downshift with a manual transmission. Holding the right foot on the brake. Depress the clutch with the left foot. Move the shifter from 4th into neutral. Holding the right foot on the brake, roll it to the right to "blip" the throttle and increase the engine speed. Move the shifter into 3rd. Release the clutch. Accelerate out of the corner.

It sounds more difficult than it is. I was surprised that I was able to learn this technique fairly quickly. It's so satisfying when you have it down.

[slatyb]

This is standard on high-end sports cars. BMW calls it "DCT - double clutch transmission". They introduced it in the E46 M3 in the 2000's. I would love to get one. Porsche calls it "PDK" -- Porsche double clutch, but with a "K" because it's in German.

[Asker]

Thank you for taking your time to explain it to me. I appreciate it a lot!

[Titlover01]

I prefer a manual transmission.

[Asker]

Me too!

[Titlover01]

Oh cool

[Asker]

Learning manual atm

[Titlover01]

Oh nice glad you licking it. What speed transmission is it

[Asker]

A 6 speed. 😊

[Asker]

I went into fourth gear on my fifth lesson ever on a main road for an hour and then for the first time I did a 3 point turn and it was good apparently. I have had a total of 5 hours of experience driving a manual. On my fourth ever lesson, I did go on a main road, but it wasn’t as busy (4 hours altogether). On my first ever lesson driving a manual, I stalled 5 times within an hour. 1 lesson= 1 hour.

[Titlover01]

Wow. Good for you. Except for the stalling. But that will come with time

[Asker]

Thanks a lot. Last time I had my lesson I didn’t stall that much. Even fully licensed people stall lmao it’s normal

[Titlover01]

Yes just part of the game. Lol

[Asker]

It’s the key to learning as they say lol

[Titlover01]

That’s true.

[Asker]

Not gonna lie, it is embarrassing when it does occur though lol.

[Titlover01]

Yes it does especially when some else that you know is around.

[Asker]

The first time I stalled as a learner I got beeped at, so I ended up sticking the finger up at the driver that beeped at me.

[Titlover01]

Oh yeah that happens to

[Asker]

Haha I stuck up the finger, so we’re all good lol.

[Titlover01]

Haha that’s true

[Danny_dan92]

Manual.

[Asker]

Yes! 🙌🏽

[LavLavLuv]

manual..

[Asker]

Me too 🤝🏽